RAPID PROTOTYPING

Rutland Plastics has the capability to produce rapid plastic prototypes in-house for you to test your products prior to committing to the investment in a mould tool. The plastic prototypes will be as close as you can get to final manufactured parts using rapid prototyping.

We use a Stratasys Objet Connex 350 – the only 3D Polyjet printers in the world capable of printing using multiple materials. You have the option of choosing from more than 100 materials with varying mechanical properties, textures and shades, simulating anything from rigid engineering plastics to transparent materials along with eleven different variations on the rubber shore scale.

HELPING YOU ALONG THE WAY

Working in partnership with you: As part of our prototyping service we offer free design advice.

RAPID TURNAROUND

Wherever possible, we aim to respond with a quote within 24 hours. You can have prototypes in your hands within 3-4 days of initial contact—sometimes faster.

TAKING IT FURTHER

Our free design advice will help you take your project further. It is important that your prototypes simulate future production parts in terms of functionality. We can also provide you with advice on material selection and a quote for production parts.

MATERIAL POSSIBILITIES

The ability to combine two different prototyping materials in differing proportions means that a wide variety of different grades of polymer can be simulated. Combinations can be made up of two rigid materials, two flexible materials, one of each type, and any combination with transparent materials. It is also possible to produce prototypes using a combination of black and white materials to create a range of grey scales.

PROTOTYPING

Finished prototype parts can be painted, machined, drilled or chrome plated. All materials are REACH compliant. Rapid prototypes produced using this method are as life-like as the final manufactured items so form, fit and function can be accurately tested.

Sometimes it is necessary for product assemblies to be manufactured from a combination of materials. Traditional prototyping can be expensive in these instances. We are able to manufacture parts and assemblies made from multiple materials, with different mechanical properties, all in a single build.

As Rutland Plastics offers 3D printing of prototypes and jigs as a standalone service, we have a dedicated website providing you with more information. Here you can learn more about the materials available and related applications.

Accuracy

Wall sections from a minimum of 0.6mm are possible with accuracy of parts of 0.1mm – 0.3mm. The maximum build size of any part we are able to offer is 342mm x 342mm x 200mm. Larger plastic prototypes are possible by joining two or more models.

Materials

There are 6 base materials which can be combined to create further materials:

VeroWhite: Rigid, opaque materials that combine dimensional stability with high detail.FullCure720: A rigid colourless material with great dimensional stability.Rigur – Simulates Polypropylene: A new material that gives prototypes the look and feel of polypropylene.TangoBlack+ – Simulates Rubber: Rubber-like materials that offer various levels of elastomer characteristics.Digital-ABS – (RGD5160-DM): By blending two different Fullcure grades it is possible to simulate ABS, combining high temperature resistance with high toughness.VeroClear – Simulates Clear ABS: A transparent material for use where a clear part is required.

JIGS & FIXTURES

The versatility of our 3D printer enables us to produce jigs and fixtures for assembly, quality control and many other applications. Not only can these jigs be produced far more quickly than by traditional methods, but they are cheaper too.

Soft touch features and text can be easily incorporated.

100

DIFFERENT MATERIALS AVAILABLE

7 - SHORE A

VALUES

200 MM

BUILD HEIGHT

342 MM

BUILD, WIDTH AND DEPTH

Next Step – Talk to the Experts!

We can provide advice and quotes on anything from a simple sketch to a 3D computer model. Most drawing formats can be handled although we find STEP, Parasolid and DXF translate most successfully.